Foot cap



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L69L440' H.E.HODGSON FOOT CAP Filed June 2, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l e 4 r JNVENEOR Nov. 13, 1928. 1,691,440

H. E. HODGSON FOOT CAP Filed June 2, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2. lNgi/VTOR BY 1.0/ ATTORNE Patented Nov. 13, 1928.

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FOOT CAP.

' Application filed June 2,1925 Serial No; I

The object of this invention is to provide an effective, inexpensive and readily washable type of device, to be worn beneath the stocking, for the relief, treatment and prevention of foot troubles. Some of the particscribed and claimed to savethe suffering which i s caused by such ills, to safeguard the feet from blemishes, as can easily be done with children if their feet are protected in time, to assist in breaking in new shoes, to prevent or correct peculiarities in ones walk caused by foot discomfort, to relieve pressure upon sore places, and to assist materially in the treatment of such complaints as gout, sci-' atica, chilblains, ingrowing nails, bunions, corns and callouses. The foot caps of my invention embody a loose, plastic pad of fine, soft, elastic lambs wool fibres, light in weight and delicate to the skin, yet an active protection and having a peculiarly soothing property in cases of pain and inflammation. The pad is loosely stitched to a thin back of sheer or fine net material suitably formed for the particular application for Which the cap is designed; the whole can be washed; and the pad is not only preferably plastic so as to be self-conforming to the foot, but is so constituted as to be manipulatable so as to thin or thicken the pad at a given point, or to shift or distribute the fibres, in order to secure the best effect.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating several forms of the invention Fig. l is a perspective viewof a form of the device applying the pad to the back of a foot, this embodiment of the invention being suitable for chilblain conditions or for any con dition in which the back or "heel portion of the foot is affected;

Fig. 2 is a side view of this form of the device; I Fig. 8 is a sectional view, taken on the line '33 of Fig. 2, illustrating the cap as if conformed to the foot;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of another form of the invention upon the last two toes of the foot;

Fig. 5 is a plan View of this cap;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 66 of Fig. 5 Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 77 of Fig. 5, indicating the relation of the cap to the toes;

of shoes.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of anotherform of the invention applied to the first joint;

Fig. 9 is a view lookinglon the inside of this form; 1

Fig. 10 1s a cross-section of the sameform;

ular purposes of the foot caps'herein de- I v F igell is'a similar vieivshowingliowthe pad may be adjusted'by; pulling the fibres;

' Fig. 12 is a side View of two other forms of the caps upon the heel and toe portions of a foot, these forms being suitable for gouty or sciatic conditions,a1nong others; I

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the heel cap shown in Fig. 12 and Fig. 14: is a perspective view of the toe cap of the same view.

The cap shown in Figs. 1-3 has a back 2, preferably of a material such as fine silk or cotton net, shaped to receive the back, sides and bottom of the heel portion of the foot, and to hold the pad 3, on'its inner side, .in contact with'tlie upper rear and lateral portions of the foot. The pad 3 is composed of the lanibs-wool fibres, loosely matted, springy, and capable of being picked and pulled by the fingers, to open the pad in varying degree or to shift the thickness. The pad is preferably secured to the back by stitching 4 around the outer part of the padded area.

This form, as previously stated, is especially advantageous for cases of chilblain. It, or similar forms, may also be used for other conditions of chafing, inflammation or strainin the heel region.

The small cap of Figs. 4-7 is applicable to the little toe and the adjoining toe, which are particularly susceptible to corns and to malformations resulting from the wearing The back 2* in this instance may be of chiffon, or of sheer Japanese or China silk, and is in the form of a pocket, open at one end and of such size as tos'lip over the two toes. 'The pad 3 is attached by a few stitches 4* to the under side of the topof the like materiahby. circular stitching 4 and themanner in which the pad can be adjusted by pulling and shifting the fibres is.illus trated in Figs. 10 and 11. This cap is conveniently held in place by a loop 5 sewed at its ends to the forward edges of the back 2, to encircle the toe.

Figs. 12, 13 and 14 show toe and heel caps for use in gouty or sciatic conditions, though their application is not necessarily limited to these. The heel cap of Figs. 12 and 13 is similar to that of Figs. 13, except that the'pa'd 3, which is of the same character as those already described, covers the whole interior of the back 2. The stitching i sufficiently secures the pad to the back while leaving the mass of the fibres free. The toe capshown in Figs. 12 and 14 is similar, being shaped, however, as a fiat pocket to receive all the toes; the back, padand stitching are marked 2%.3 and 4E, respectively.

These forms sufficiently illustrate the invention, and still other forms having similar characteristics need not be described. The thin fabric backs may be of single or double thickness, it being desirable to use a double thickness under the foot where the pad afiixed to the'inn'er side of such material by edge stitching following the outlineci the pad, said pad being formed of lambs wool or the like with the fibers Within the stitched line relatively free to permit such fibers to be bunched or thinned at di-fferent areas for bandage purposes.

HARRIETTE ENSLEY H'oDesoN. 

